Redfish and flounder have provided most the action for last week. Small male seatrout are in the creeks. Large females (seatrout) on the beachfronts. The quality of bait shrimp has been poor. White shrimp are very small. They die easily and their small size isn’t appealing to a large fish wanting a meal. Mudminnow and finger mullet are both availale to those willing to set a trap or throw a cast net.. These fish make excellent baits. Seatrout action has been slow with best catches likely coming at night fishing under dock lights. The flounder bite has been good but will likely pick up in the coming weeks. Whiting have become scare along the sandbars as small shark abound. An ocassional small redfish will take a bait but these fish are still a little too small to want to tangle with most baits. Gabe (from the DNR) said small redfish should start appearing in mid July. Despite ample rains some large mouth bass fishermen are saying they’re catching some nice reds. Action for redfish along mudflats is slowing as more toothy fish move in. Sharks have been plentiful. Pogies are showing up on the beach front in force. Should be a good tarpon/jack year. The guess is that we’ll a good bite but it will likely wont happen later than normal. Water temperature is already in the mid 80’s. Best chances of success are usually found during the summer in the early morning. Fish moving water before the day gets hot and storms build. When the bite slows it’s time to move to another drop. Last month’s Salt Water Sportsman had a couple of articles which inshore fishermen could definitely apply to local waters for seatrout and flounders.

Tides are only in the 7ft range going into the holiday weekend. Southwest winds could slow the outgoing tide to a slow trickle. Best bite is likely early.

Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan